Initial screening will be done by readers from our contest selection committee—consisting of accomplished and award-winning poets, with members renewed yearly—who will also be reading the entries blind. Thus, judging of the contest will be completely anonymous from start to finish!

Entries may not be previously published, but individual poems and chapbook-length sections may have been if the previous publisher gives reprint permission. (Still, more than one-quarter of the manuscript may not have been previously published as a collection.)

Entries consisting in part or whole of translations into English are also welcome, provided that the original-language poems are in the public domain, or where the original-language poems are still under copyright protection, written permission from the rights holder to translate into English is provided.

Simultaneous submissions accepted as long as we're immediately notified if your work is accepted elsewhere.

Unlimited entries per person—if you wish to enter more than once, then a separate entry fee and submission form must be completed for each entry.

All poetry styles are welcome (metrical or free verse).

A poetry manuscript of 50 to 120 pages.

Acknowledgments may be included in the manuscript but are not required.

We prefer online entries, however, paper/snail mail entry is available for those who insist on the traditional submission method.

If you're entering by paper/snail mail, the manuscripts cannot be returned so, do not send us your only copies.

For paper/snail mail entries, include an SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) to receive the announcement of the winner.

The contests will be judged blind by the final judge, so:

Author's name should only appear on cover page/cover letter and nowhere else.

Initial screening will be done by our contest selection committee—consisting of accomplished and award-winning poets, with members renewed yearly—which may include Able Muse editors.

The final judge will received anonymized manuscripts (five to ten depending and the number of total entries and their quality).

The final judge will be instructed to disqualify any work that he/she recognizes. The entry fee for the work thus disqualified will be refunded.

Only send one file attachment with everything (50 to 120 pages), with the cover page prepared as described in the blind judging section above (do NOT attach a separate file for different parts of the manuscript!)

There should be no identification in the manuscript file itself as described in the blind judging section above (i.e., except in the cover page).

By check: Able Muse Review, and sent to the contest address indicated above.

In the event of a withdrawal, entry fees are non-refundable.

To enable us to match your payment to your entry, be sure to indicate the name you entered with in your manuscript (i.e. your pen name, etc), if it's different from the one under which payment was made, and this applies for online or check payment by snail mail.

First off, please excuse a young writer a potentially naive & ridiculous question. I have a poetry collection of 27 poems. The longer poems definitely require page breaks. Is it a valid 50 pages if I format the page breaks myself? If I publish this work myself, I am anticipating 6x9 dimensions. Appreciate your honest advice on how to determine acceptable and appropriate page length.

Considering the costs of paper, ink, cover stock, and pre-press operations, the idea of a free contest is a bit unrealistic. Small presses have to charge an entry fee to make all of this possible. Despite the advancements made in printing in the last twenty years the truth is that to produce a book, usually no less that a 500 book run, it costs a significant amount of money. Most small presses have to "farm out" their books to the best printer, and they have to hope that quality of the printed product does the book and the press justice. There's nothing like a poorly printed book to make the buyer wonder whether it's really worth it. We should be thankful that the folks at Able Muse are so willing to take on this rewarding but monumental task.

Does a doctoral dissertation count as "previously published"? I think there's a Library of Congress entry for it, but it's not physically in print anywhere and cannot be accessed online.
I've wondered about this for some time now. Thanks.

Yes, Able Muse Press will promote and sell the published book through the regular book distribution channels. Besides, the winning prize, the winner will also be given a standard book contract including royalties on the book sales.

I have a about 26 poems in a book format, but the page size I have the word document set at is 5x8. My question is whether or not, the entry has to be formatted to an 8.5x11 page size or if I can enter using the existing 5x8 setting? Also is it okay for me to use the poems I entered in the Write Prize contest in my manuscript?

It depends on how long or short the poems are. If they're very short poems (e.g. sonnet length or so), then the answer will be no. If they're longer, then I'll say yes since the page count will likely increase on a smaller size paper.

Hello Editors:
Like many others, I am hesitant to send my credit card or checking acct. information over the web. Is it permissible to send the ms. and then to mail the check separately? I think you answered this in iii above, but I want to be clear that you aren't speaking there of checks submitted with mailed mss.
Thanks
George

I am (unfortunately) submitting via USPS, and I am wondering if the above March 31st deadline is a postmark deadline or an "in hand" deadline for postal submitters. I am sending my ms through the mail today (March 30th) so I highly doubt that the ms will make it to you by tomorrow. If it comes a few days after the deadline, but is postmarked by the deadline, is that alright? Please let me know, if you can. You can also contact me at marchettis@net.elmhurst.edu. Thanks so much.

It seems as though many of those planning on submitting ar unfamiliar with contests,terms, and haven't read with understanding, the eplanations clearly in the rules.How nice that you have responded cordially and without frustration to the

Hello rm,
No, entries are not edited. They're read and considered as submitted, and will win or not on the strenght of the manuscript as submitted. Still, the winning entries, and finalist entries that are ultimately selected for publication might receive editing recommendations from the editors.
Best,
...Alex

I have written and self-publsihed two of my three epic poems. I am currently almost done with the final one. Since it's part of a trilogy does that disqualify me from submitting it? Also, since it is an epic, it is essentially a fictional story. Thus, I want to know if I should submit it to the Write Prize instead.
Thanks,

I an going to submit electronically and was not clear: do you want the cover page included in the manuscript that is uploaded? I understand no info that appears on the cover page should appear anywhere else in the manuscript.

Hello Vicky,
The simple answer is that chosen manuscripts can still be edited afterwards by the authors (pending the editor/publisher). However, you'll only be judging is solely based on what is submitted to the contest.
Best,
...Alex

I just tried to upload my manuscript submission and don't think it worked. There was a line where I could enter the file name on my computer, but there was nothing that allowed me to upload it. Is there something wrong?

Hi Janet,
No we don't use Paypal. However, you don't need to have Google Wallet to pay with it. All you need is any major credit card. Or, if that fails, you can pay by the snail mail/check or money order method as described above (item 3 of "Entry Methods").
Best,
...Alex

Hello there,
My manuscript only contains 26 poems, however, the nature of the project is that each poem goes with one or two photographs (ekphrastic poetry), so overall the manuscript is greater than 50 pages. The poems themselves wouldn't span 50 pages though. The manuscript also includes a foreward. I noticed someone else asked a similar question about number of poems v. pages, but since mine wasn't just about the poems, I thought I'd clarify: is this a qualifying 50+ page manuscript? also, do forewards get read? is the photo thing workable?
Also, I know this is quiet last minute, so if I don't get the chance to submit this time around, that's fine. But it would still be lovely to get your insight.
Cheers,
Em